Zeb and the Great Ruckus
by Josh DonellanZeb lives in a land much like ours. Kids go to school. Mothers create questionable recipes. Homework and chores exist. Bullies and quirky kids clash. Leaders abuse their power. Then again, Zeb's world is very different from ours. You never know what clay and music combined will get you. Birds can be your average run of the mill birds or made or clockwork. Animals can create magical music. At it's core the story is simple - one extinct creature suddenly reappears. At the same time Zeb is turning twelve and receiving messages his father had written as he was dying, to be given to Zeb on his twelfth birthday Combined, the two events lead Zeb on the adventure of a lifetime. An adventure where he's seeking answers both for himself (about what kind of person his father was) and potentially his whole world ( surely an extinct musical being coming back means something for all of them given the czar has banned music?). It's a short book targeted at the children's market but adults will love it just as much as any child will. Short or not, it would be a fast read because it's perfectly paced and even the darkest times keep a cheery tone that keep you wanting to trot onward, hopefully to a sing song happily ever after.
